Kenyans have been urged to ignore misconceptions being raised on various vaccinations among them the Human papillomavirus-HPV vaccine.
Speaking in Nakuru on Tuesday during a journalists’ sensitization workshop on immunization, Nakuru County CEC for health Dr.Gichuki Kariuki said there is a lot to be done to address ignorance on the side of the public.
While noting that Human papillomavirus has been greatly attributed to cervical cancer, the CEC told off a section of religious leaders who have been against the HPV vaccine that will soon be launched in the country.
Dr.Gichuki added that matters of immunization are not much of medical problem but more of a religion, culture etc, as they affect the future generation.
During the workshop that was organized by KANCO (a leading national health advocacy Network) in partnership with the County Government of Nakuru, the CEC also called on members of the Fourth estate to play a key role in educating the public on the factual benefits of the HPV vaccine.
“Immunization is not much of a medical problem but rather religion, culture etc as it affects the generation. We therefore need to shun the misconceptions that are there even on HPV vaccine. Media should also help us to address ignorance issue” said Dr.Gichuki.
Similar sentiments echoed by Nakuru County Chief officer for Medical services Dr.Solomon Sirma who said the county is set for the HPV vaccination exercise.
The vaccine will be given to all girls of 10 years(born in 2009) and will be in 2 doses of six months apart.
In Nakuru County mapping of schools close to health facilities to offer the vaccine has already been done with school heads working closely with the health officials on the same.
The county is targeting 43,000 girls of age 10 years once the vaccine is launched to be administered freely.
The HPV vaccine according to World Health Organization helps prevent over 95% of infections from HPV types 16&18 hence the effectiveness of the vaccine.
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